Osteopathic pillow

ABSTRACT

The pillow ( 10 ) comprises a body ( 12 ) made of an elastically deformable material provided with a top side ( 14 ) upon which the head of a user can be rested, and an underside ( 16 ) for being placed upon a pillow support. The top side ( 14 ) is joined to the underside ( 16 ) by at least one shoulder side ( 18, 18   b ). Said shoulder side is provided with a shoulder cut-out ( 20 A,  20 B) that forms an opening for the cervical vertebrae of the user when he is lying on his back, and forms an accommodating space for the shoulder of the user when he is lying on his side. The top side ( 14 ) preferably comprises a recess ( 22 ) that partially accommodates the head of the user (H), called the head receiving recess ( 22 ).

The present invention relates to an osteopathic pillow.

There already exists in the prior art a pillow of the type comprising abody of elastically deformable material provided with a top side uponwhich the head of a user can be rested, and an underside designed to beplaced upon a pillow support, the top side being connected to theunderside by at least one scapular side.

Generally speaking, the shape of an anatomical pillow is adapted tosupport the user's cervical vertebrae. Indeed, it being commonly thoughtthat the cervical vertebrae require support during periods of restlying.

Usually, however, at the end of the day, the cervical lordosis of aperson is accentuated by the tension in the neck leading to retractionof the neck muscles. It would therefore seem more appropriate to relievethe cervical vertebrae by not supporting them during periods of restlying.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pillow of the above typethat will enable a gentle and progressive stretching of the cervicalvertebrae in order to relax this vertebral segment during periods ofrest lying.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a pillow of the above type,characterized in that the scapular side is provided with a scapularcut-out that forms both an indentation for the cervical vertebrae of theuser when he is lying on his back, and an accommodating space for theshoulder of the user when he is lying on his side.

In accordance with other features of this pillow:

-   -   the top side includes a recess, called the head receiving        recess, that partially accommodates the head of the user;    -   the top side includes a cervical connecting gutter forming a        cervical indentation extending between the head receiving recess        and the scapular cut-out so as to prevent, or at least limit,        contact between the neck of the user and the top side of the        body;    -   the body of deformable material includes an orifice, called the        ear orifice, opening at one end into the head receiving recess        and at the other into the underside, this ear orifice making it        possible to prevent or at least limit the compression of the ear        of the user in contact with the pillow when the user is lying on        his side;    -   the top side is connected to the underside by two opposite        scapular sides, each able to be in contact with the shoulder of        the user as the user wishes, these two opposite shoulder sides        each being provided with a scapular cut-out;    -   the top side includes two cervical connecting gutters, each        extending between the head positioning recess and a        corresponding scapular cut-out;    -   the top side and the underside are similar in shape and each can        be used for the other;    -   the body is made of a composite material in such a way that that        part of the body which forms the top side is relatively dense,        and therefore suitable for the winter, and that part of the body        which forms the underside is relatively aerated, and therefore        suitable for the summer;    -   the overall shape of the body of deformable material is that of        a prism;    -   the overall prism shape of the mass of deformable material has        at its base an isosceles trapezoid, each of the two parallel        sides of this trapezoid forming a scapular side, and the other        two sides of the trapezoid forming the top side and underside of        the body;    -   the body of deformable material is made of foam.

A clearer understanding of the invention will be gained from reading thefollowing description, which is given purely by way of example, withreference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, with a longitudinal section, of the pillowillustrated in FIG. 1, showing a user lying on his side with his headresting on the pillow;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top views of the pillow illustrated in the previousfigures, showing a user lying on his side and back, respectively.

The figures show a so-called osteopathic pillow according to theinvention denoted by the general reference 10.

The pillow 10 comprises a body 12 made of an elastically deformablematerial, preferably synthetic or natural foam, the material also beingmite-resistant.

The body 12 of deformable material can optionally be covered with apillowslip (not shown in the figures).

In the example illustrated, the overall shape of the body 12 ofdeformable material is that of a prism. More particularly, the body 12has at its base an isosceles trapezoid T, the outline of which is shownin FIG. 2.

The body 12 of deformable material is provided with a top side 14 onwhich the head of a user H can be rested. The body 12 of deformablematerial is also provided with an underside 16 designed to be placedupon a pillow 10 support, which will usually be an item of bedding suchas a mattress. The top side 14 is connected to the underside 16 by afirst scapular side 18A designed to come into contact with the shoulderor shoulders of the user H.

The first scapular side 18A is provided with a first scapular cut-out20A forming an accommodating space for the shoulder of the user H whenthis user is lying on his side, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This firstcut-out 20A also forms an indentation for the cervical vertebrae of theuser H when this user is lying on his back, as shown in FIG. 4.

In addition, the top side 14 includes a recess 22, called the headreceiving recess 22, that partially accommodates the head of the user H.

The first shoulder cut-out 20A is connected to the head receiving recess22 by a first connecting cervical gutter 24A. This gutter 24A forms acervical indentation designed to prevent or at least limit contactbetween the neck of the user H and the top side 14 of the body 12.

The body 12 of deformable material includes an orifice 26, called theear orifice 26, opening at one end into the head receiving recess 22 andat the other into the underside 16 of the body 12. The function of theear orifice 26 is to prevent or at least limit the compression of theear of the user H in contact with the pillow 10 when this user H islying on his side as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The top side 14 is connected to the underside 16 by a second scapularside 18B opposite the first scapular side 18A.

It will be seen that the two parallel sides of the trapezoid T definethe two scapular sides 18A, 18B. The other two sides of the trapezoid Tform the top side 14 and the underside 16 of the body 12 of deformablematerial.

The second scapular side 18B is, like the first scapular side 18A,provided with a second scapular cut-out 20B having the same function asthe first cut-out 20A.

The top side 14 of the body 12 of deformable material is also providedwith a second cervical gutter 24B extending between the head receivingrecess 22 and the second scapular cut-out 20B.

As a matter of preference, the top side 14 and the underside 16 of thebody 12 are similar in shape and each can be used for the other.

Thus, the underside 16 comprises, like the top side 14, a head receivingrecess 22, in which lies the open end of the ear orifice 26, and twocervical gutters 24A, 24B.

If desired, the material of the body 12 may be composite in such a waythat that part of the body 12 which forms, for example, the top side 14is relatively dense, and therefore suitable for the winter, and thatpart of the body 12 which forms the underside 16 is relatively aerated,and therefore suitable for the summer.

The main invention-related use aspects of the pillow 10 will be detailedbelow.

When the user H is lying on his side, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, heplaces his head in a recess 22 such as that formed on the top side 14 ofthe pillow.

The ear of the user H which is in contact with the pillow sits at leastpartly within the ear orifice 26. This limits the compression on thisear. It will be seen that when the user H is lying down, the shoulderthat is in contact with the pillow 10 has a tendency to close up towardsthe user's head. The scapular cut-out 20A accommodates this shoulderclose to the head.

The connecting gutter 24A forms an indentation for the cervicalvertebrae of the user H so that this vertebral segment is hardly restingon the pillow 10. This allows a gentle, progressive stretching of thecervical vertebrae.

It will be seen that the top side 14 and the underside 16 converge fromthe second scapular side 18B towards the first scapular side 18A, whichis lower than the second scapular side 18B. This allows the pillow 10 tobe adapted to different user H morphologies. A child will find it betterto place the first scapular side 18A (the lower side) in contact withhis shoulder, while an adult will find it better to place the secondscapular side 18B (the higher side) in contact with his shoulder.

When the user H is lying on his back, he places his head in a headpositioning recess 22, such as that formed in the top side 14 of thebody 12, as shown in FIG. 4.

Assuming the first scapular side 18A to be in contact with the shouldersof the user H, the cut-out 20A and the cervical gutter 24A formindentations that prevent or at least limit contact between the cervicalvertebrae and the pillow 10. The cervical vertebrae can thus stretchgently and progressively in order to relax this vertebral segment whilethe user is lying down.

It will be seen that the ear orifice 26 optimizes the aeration of thepillow 10 in such a way as to limit any sweating of the user H and/orassist in carrying away this sweat.

1. A pillow of the type comprising a body (12) of elastically deformablematerial provided with a top side (14) upon which the head of a user (H)can be rested, and an underside (16) designed to be placed upon a pillowsupport, the top side (14) being connected to the underside (16) by atleast one scapular side (18A, 18B), wherein the top side includes arecess, called the head receiving recess, that partially accommodatesthe head of the user, the scapular side (18A, 18B) being provided with ascapular cut-out (20A, 20B) that forms both an indentation for thecervical vertebrae of the user (H) when he is lying on his back, and anaccommodating space for the shoulder of the user (H) when he is lying onhis side, the top side includes a cervical gutter forming a cervicalindentation extending between the head receiving recess and the scapularcut-out so as to prevent or at least limit contact between the neck ofthe user and the top side of the body, the body of deformable materialincludes an orifice, called the ear orifice, opening at one end into thehead receiving recess and at the other into the underside, this earorifice making it possible to prevent or at least limit the compressionof the ear of the user in contact with the pillow when the user is lyingon his side, the body is made of a composite material in such a way thatthat part of the body which forms the top side is relatively dense, andtherefore suitable for the winter, and that part of the body which formsthe underside is relatively aerated, and therefore suitable for thesummer, and the overall shape of the body of deformable material is thatof a prism.
 2. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top side(14) is connected to the underside (16) by two opposite scapular sides(18A, 18B), each able to be in contact with the shoulder of the user (H)as the user wishes, these two opposite shoulder sides 10 (18A, 18B}eachbeing provided with a scapular cut-out (20A, 20B).
 3. The pillow asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the top side (14) includes two cervicalconnecting gutters (24A, 24B), each extending between the headpositioning recess (22) and a corresponding scapular cut-out (20A, 20B).4. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top side (14) and theunderside {16) are similar in shape and each can be used for the other.5. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overall prism shape ofthe mass (12) of deformable material has at its base an isoscelestrapezoid, each of the two parallel sides of this trapezoid forming ascapular side (18A, 18B), and the other two sides of the trapezoidforming the top side (14) and underside (16) of the body {12).
 6. Thepillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (12) of deformablematerial is made of foam.